Unplugged Wedding Ceremonies: What They Are and Why So Many Couples Love Them

Picture this, you're standing at the front on your wedding day, hand-in-hand with your partner, emotions bubbling over after sharing your personally-written vows. You glance around at your guests… and all you see are screens. Not faces, not teary smiles - just phones, flashes and the occasional iPad.

For this reason, more and more couples are choosing to have an unplugged wedding ceremony.

So, what is an unplugged ceremony?

An unplugged ceremony is a wedding where guests are asked to put away their phones, cameras and devices for the duration of the ceremony. The idea is simple - no distractions, no clicking, no live-streaming; just pure, uninterrupted presence.

It’s about creating a space where everyone – not just the couple – gets to truly 'be there'.

Why go unplugged? Here’s what couples are telling me…

Real connection over the perfect shot

Guests watching your ceremony through a phone screen are missing the magic unfolding right in front of them. Unplugging invites everyone to be fully present to laugh, cry and witness your moment without distractions.

You've hired a photographer for a reason

You’ve carefully chosen someone to capture the beauty and emotion of your day. Let them do what they do best, without guests unintentionally getting in the way, blocking key shots or snapping less-than-flattering angles mid-vow.

No one wants their 'first kiss' photo ruined by Uncle Brian’s flash going off!

You get to share your day, your way

In a world where everything hits social media in seconds, unplugged ceremonies give you some breathing room. You and your partner get to choose which moments to share and when, rather than finding your vows already uploaded before the confetti’s even settled.

Worried your guests might not get it?

You can still have an unplugged ceremony and keep your guests happy – it’s all in the delivery:

• Add a kind message to your wedding stationery or wedding website

• Put up a beautifully worded sign at the entrance (Pinterest is full of ideas!)

• Ask your celebrant (that’s me!) to make a warm announcement just before the ceremony starts – I often say something like:

'(Couple's names) kindly ask that you put your phones and cameras away during the ceremony so we can all be fully present with them. They promise there’ll be lots of lovely photo moments later!'

Unplugged, semi-unplugged or somewhere in between?

This isn’t an all-or-nothing decision. Some couples prefer a totally unplugged ceremony, others ask guests to put phones away for key moments (like the vows and rings) and some create a designated 'photo moment' partway through.

There’s no right or wrong – it’s your ceremony, your vibe, your rules.

In summary?

Whether you choose to go fully unplugged or just ask guests to keep phones low-key, the heart of it is this: if you want to feel that people are truly present and not fumbling for their camera settings, an unplugged ceremony may be for you.

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Want help planning a ceremony that feels truly you, unplugged or not? Let’s chat – I’d love to hear your ideas!

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